James H. "Jim" Douglas (born June 21, 1951) is the former Governor of the state of Vermont and a member of the Republican Party. He is known as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. Douglas began his political career in 1972 after getting elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, directly out of college. He went on to become House Majority Leader. In 1980, Douglas was elected Vermont Secretary of State, and went on the be reelected five times, receiving the nomination of both political parties on three occasions. In 1992, he challenged Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy, but was defeated by a 54%-43% margin. Douglas was elected State Treasurer in 1994 and served until his election as Governor in 2002. He was easily re-elected in 2004, 2006, and 2008, despite Vermont being a stronghold for Democrats. Douglas is currently chairman of the National Governors Association.

Jim Douglas and the Democratic super-majority in the state legislator have frequently been at odds. Democrats had overridden Governor Douglas' veto of the state budget and overridden his veto of legislation that would allow same-sex marriage. [1]

Douglas has announced he will not seek a fifth term as Governor in 2010. [2] "After 36 years as a public servant, 28 of those years in statewide office, with what will be eight years as governor and through 15 statewide elections, I will have held center stage long enough for any leader." [3]